Skiers Survive Avalanche, High Risk This Weekend

0:00It's April 18th. Welcome to Anchorage News Today, powered by AI. Two skiers got caught in an avalanche, Friday and Chugach State Park, south of Anchorage, leaving both injured but able to dig themselves out. Alaska State Troopers got the call just before 2.30 pm, about three guys skiing a snow shoot near Falls Creek Trail when the slide hit. A trooper helicopter, with an Alaska Mountain Rescue Group member, swooped in quick, airlifting the first guy to a landing zone around mile 100. Six on the Seward Highway. From there, Anchorage Fire Department rushed him to a hospital by ground. By 6 pm, they flew the second skier straight to a hospital in Anchorage. Rescuers handled it smoothly, but the close call highlights the risks out there right now. No word yet on how serious the injuries are, though both made it to care fast. Avalanche forecasters are sounding the alarm for the weekend, rating danger as considerable Saturday with human triggered slides up to five feet deep. Slowly on steep, wind loaded slopes.

1:01Things ramp up Sunday as a big storm hits, making natural avalanches probable, so they're urging folks to skip backcountry terrain altogether. Stick. To low angle spots, and avoid warm times of day or wet snow, stay safe out there if you're heading into the powder.